Transcripts For KQED State Of The Union 2014 20140129

Blackwell of policylink and Michael Tanner of the cato institute. Ifill here with us now, as they will be throughout the evening, our own shields and brooks. Syndicated columnist mark shields and New York Times columnist david brooks. 7 so, gentlemen, put on your prognostication hats. What do you expect tonight . It wont be f. D. R. s new deal. Were not looking at the 100 days here. Were looking at modesty, theme of opportunity, discussion of the executive order. Immigration will be bigger, probably a few threats on the debt ceiling somake sure congress doesnt put us in default, but not look at a gigantic agenda. Im most interested in the tone. I think the president a nation that is severely pessimistic, has been now in the wrong direction rather than on the right track for 10 years now. The sense of pesmism is pervasive, and i want to see if the president can connect with people beyond the room tonight. Woodruff is there a defensiveness already setting in with this state of the union because the white house is already talking about the limits of the president s power. You know, president s discover this. They come in thinking they really can run things. They have trouble running their own administration, let alone running washington has been extremely difficult. Were watching the cabinet walk in and being introduced. You see john kerry, and it will be interesting to see how much Foreign Affairs there is. One of the disadvantages of writing the speeches, you have too cram everything in there, and it takes away from lyricism. Foreign affairs, especially iran, and syria, well see what the president says. Foreign affairs, the second half of the president s second terms, have oftentimes on Foreign Affairs certainly president reagans last two years, and gorbachev, the reproachment, was the highlight. And president can do it without dealing with the congress. If the congress is recaltrant or resistant, the president can act. Which member of the cabinet is not going to be there, in order to preserve the line of succession, should something terrible happen. And that person tonight is ernest miewnez, the secretary of energy. One of the new members of the cabinet. As we look at the assembles members of congress, you see attorney general eric holder. Youre seeing some other faces you may not recognize because some of these cabinet members are just a year old or less. The secretary of the interior, salary jewel. And chuck hagel, the secretary of defense. This feels like the prom every year, everybody coming in, its very exciting, but what impact do we actually see from these speeches, david . Traditionally, not so much. If you look at the Public Opinion, you can usually theyll move two or three Percentage Points one way or the other. The dpepgzs are bill clinton after the lewinsky scandal had a big movement. But the president laying out his agenda has a huge effect inside the white house. They have a fight over what gets mentioned what, doesnt get mentioned what, has priority, what doesnt. Its an organizing structure for the administration as much as it is an event. Bill clinton was roasted by the pundit class cltiond this pundit. In 1998 he talked too long. He was endless, he had no discipline. Ifill was that the hour and 20 minutes . And lo and behold, the American People responded to it more than they had to a state of the union before. There has been a set of lawppedry lists ever since. Woodruff when you step back, both of you, what does the president need to accomplish . Well, hes got to convince democrats that he is going to be a positive, energetic, Dynamic Force from this point between now and election day. Judy, if the democrats lose the senate in 2014, 20 15 and 2016 will be Foreign Affairs. It will be a lot of travel, bought because we just will have nothing going for him in the congress. Woodruff thats right, this is an election year. Its an election year, and there has to be in that sense and i think he also needs the to Richard Nixons phrase the force of a driving dream. I think economic inequality is it. I think its something republicans, as douglas deacon has announce theyre responding to it. Theyre acknowledging it. Its been an item that has not been addressed by republicans or acknowledged. Ifill were looking at the president s domestic cabinet, sean donovan from hud, anthony fox from transportation, we just saw arnie duncan from education, and kathleen sebelius, the architect of the Health Care Plan. We talked a little about Foreign Affairs but this is really going to be a domestic speech. Yeah, and arnie duncan is one of the secretaries who has created, in a town of partisan split, arnie duncan, the secretary of education, has done actually a fabulous job creating bipartisan agreement on education policy. It can be done. I think immigration is the one were most likely if were going to see legislation this year, it will be the immigration bill. There is softening on the republican side. There is some desire to pass some comprehensive reform, Something Like what the senate did. But i really dont see much beyond that. I think the immigration is the ball game, i really do. And i think the war within the Republican Party on the subject is real. I mean, there are republicans who want the party to be competitive at the president ial level, and believe that without the Republican Party moving forcefully in support of an immigration bill, that they will write off the latino vote, in large part, and make the republican candidate noncom pettative in 2016. There are other republicans who say, no, that doesnt matter. Were to hold on to the house. This is a war that has gone on in washington for years and years. The democrat natessies didnt seem to bother them that they were losing the presidency by lopsided margins as long as they kept control of the house and senate. I think thats where the real test is. And thats yet president cant just write off the congress. Hes got to work with them expr this Administration Work with them if theres any hope for administration. Woodruff as we wait for the president to come in and theyre going to be announcing his arrival shortly is there a sense already, david, that the clock is ticking . He is only one year into his second term. It feels like the seventh or eighth year. I dont know why that is. Ifill seventh or eighth . It feels that way. It feels the end of a second term. I think thats because health care has been so big, something passed in the first term. Theres a bit, i think, of exhaustion. Its a very small team. Hes kept people around him who have been there since the first campaign, and i think there is some lack of new big energies, new big policies coming into the administration, and just the gridlock in Congress Makes it extremely hard for them to do fresh stuff. One thing i do look for, as they talk about the economic in, quality issue are, they emphasizing opportunity and mobility or are they emphasizing redistribution . And sort of the tone they set on that will determine, i think, qloo theres any hope of any bipartisanship. Woodruff you dont think the president is going to use the word redistribution . Oh, no, no, definitely not. But you can gesture in that direction. Decembers speech was certainly strenuous in emple sizing exphk inequality. That was probably the strongest liberal economic statement of his entire it administration. Ifill whats different now is people like paul rubio there you go paul ryan and marco rubio also talking about it but using the ferm social mobility rather than inequality. Thats why i think there there is some chanc chance for. Getting money down the income stream to reduce inequality, and i think that can be seized on if it isnt pushed too far or too hard. Woodruff mark, go ahead. Its interesting to look at this picture of all of them, nawl their sunday finest, and we know right now in the Public Opinion polls, congress is not held in the highest regard by the American People. Ifill paul urban, who is the door keeper of the house, is about to make ta an announcemen. You can see john boehner is waiting for his queue. Hes pushing joe biden out of the picture, don isnt he. Ifill i dont think so. Woodruff very handsome ties. Mr. Speaker, the president of the United States. applause woodruff speaking of joslin, the members do jostle for a front row place, so they can lean over and hug, kiss, or otherwise embrace the president , as he comes in, even if theyre a republican. Mark, is this right . Youre absolutely right. And you will see eliot engel of new york, who has been there since the 11th of january. Now we have to get the seat. Ifill the president in the last few days has said he will do whatever he wants toot without congress. He considers congress to be intransigent. But there are rituals you go through in the city, in this capital, and also were going to see about 20 people in the first ladys box tonight. Remember when all of a sudden we have a lot of american here whose are part of that box. Woodruff well, they do look like theyre enjoying each Others Company right now. They are politicians. We need to sleep and eat. They need other people. And they do thrive on each Others Company. And lets face it, when youre in the room, its kind of electric. Its a much smaller room than it looks like on television. Its crowded. And they just love each Others Company. Woodruff its interesting for all the pomp and circumstance here, essentially everybody agrees that not a whole lot changes as a result of this event. They come together. Its a formal occasion. They listen to the president , and then they go their separate ways. And one thing you hear about from the members, theyre now 52 teagued with the standingip and sitting down applause. This has become a volleyball game, as you stand up in a partisan way, and they feel its dehumanizing and demeaning to themselves. Somehow theyre in an arms race and cant stop doing it. They feel its degrading. I hear that a lot. Ifill what kind of signs it can we look for to be hopeful for a moment that there may be bits of bipartisanship in that room tonight . Any signs . Well, the seating arrangement, i think, is something that was done by mark udall, lisa mikulski. I think its a good sign. Ifill democrat and republican sitting together. It will be an endote to the updown, whatever, puppet strings applause lines. Theres separation of powers. Elena kagan, steven breyer. But its not mat jort who sit with the other party. By and large the democrats sit on one side, and the republicans sit on the other. President greeting members of the joint chiefs of staff, the head of the military branches, as he makes his way up to the podium, the front of the house of representatives. Ifill youd think maybe hes done this before. Now comes the moment in which he makes his nirs address, and then the applause continues a little bit longer because thats the way they do it. Woodruff and the tradition has it that the president if i thought we could hear, id stop talking. If the president gives the speaker a copy of his remarks, one year, when bill clinton was president , he handed a copy to the thenrepublican speaker, and there was nothing. All that was in it was a line about the jokes on you. And im resigning as president. Ifill michele obama. Woodruff i dont think president obama is going to do that tonight. Members of congress, i have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States. cheers and applause pelley and her we go again, right on cue. This is political theater, ifill this will probably be the only time tonight they will all stand at the same time. Woodruff now thats ps misc. Well wait and see. Thank you, thank you. Thank you so much. Mr. Speaker, mr. Vice president , members of congress, my fellow americans. Today in america a teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it and did her part to lift americas graduation wait to its highest levels in more than three decades. An entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup and did her part to add to the more than eight million new jobs our businesses have created over the past four years. applause an auto worker finetuned some of the best, most fuelefficient cars in the world and did his part to help america wean itself off foreign oil. A farmer prepared for the spring after the strongest fiveyear stretch of farm exports in our history. A rural doctor gave a young child the first prescription to treat asthma that his mother could afford. cheers and applause a man took the bus home from the graveyard shift, bone tired but dreaming big dreams for his son. And in tightknit communities all across america fathers and mothers will tuck in their kids, put an arm around their spouse, remember fallen comrades, and give thanks for being home from a war that, after 12 long years, is finally coming to an end. cheers and applause tonight, this chamber speaks with one voice to the people we respect. It is you, our citizens who make the state of our union strong. applause and here are the results of your efforts. The lowest Unemployment Rate in over five years. A rebounding housing market. A Manufacturing Sector thats adding jobs for the First Time Since the 1990s. More oil produced applause . More oil produced at home than we buy from the rest of the world. The first time thats happened in nearly 20 years. applause our deficits cut by more than half. applause and for the first time in over a decade Business Leaders around the world have declared that china is no longer the worlds numberone place to invest america is. cheers and applause thats why i believe this can be a break through year for america. After five years of grit and determined effort, the United States is better positioned for the 21st century than any other nation on earth. The question for everyone in this chamber, running through every decision we make this year, is whether we are going to help or hinder this progress. For several years now, this town has been consumed by a rancorous argument over the proper size of the federal government. Its an important debate, one that dates back to our very founding. But when that debate prevents us from carrying out even the most basic functions of our democracy, when our differences shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States, then we are not doing right by the American People. cheers and applause now, as president im committed to making washington work better and rebuilding the trust of the people who sent us here. I believe most of you are, too. Last month, thanks to the work of democrats and Republicans Congress finally produced a budget that undoes some of the last years severe cuts to priorities like education. Nobody got everything they wanted, and we can still do more to invest in this countrys future while bringing down our deficit in a balanced way, but the budget compromise should leave us freer to focus on creating new jobs, not creating new crises. And in the coming months applause . In the coming months lets see where else we can make progress together. Lets make this a year of action. Thats what most americans want. For all of us in this chamber to focus on their lives, their hopes, their aspirations. And what i believe unites the people of this nation regardless of race or region or party, young or old, rich or poor is the simple, profound belief in opportunity for all. The notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you can get ahead in america. applause lets face it, that belief has suffered some serious blows. Over more than three decades even before the Great Recession sheut massive shifts in technology had eliminated middleclass jobs and weakened the economic foundations families depend on. Today after four years of Economic Growth, corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher. And those at the top have never done better. But average wages have barely budged. Inequality has deepened. Up ward mobility has stalled. The cold hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery too Many Americans are working more than ever just to get by, let alone to get ahead. And too many still arent working at all. So our job is to reverse these trends. It wont happen right away and we wont agree on everything. But what i offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middleclass, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middleclass. Some require congressional action. And i am eager to work with all of you. But america does not stand still and neither will i. So wherever and wherever i can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American Families thats what im going to do. cheers and applause as usual, our first lady sets a good example. Michelles applause . Michelles lets move partnership with schools, businesses, local leaders, has helped bring down Childhood Obesity rates for the first time in 30 years and thats an achievement that will improve lives and reduce Health Care Costs for decades to come. The joining forces alliance that michelle and jill biden launched has encouraged employers to hire or train nearly 400,000 veterans and military spouses. applause taking a page from that play book, the white house just organized a College Opportunity summit where already 150 universities, businesses, and nonprofits have made concrete commitments to reduce inequality and access to Higher Education and to help every hardworking kid go to college and succeed when they get to campus. And across the country were partnering with mayors, governors, and state legislatures on issues from homelessness to marriage equality. The point is, there are millions of americans outside of washington who are tired of stale political arguments and are moving this country forward. They believe. And i believe that here in america our success should depend not on accident of birth but the strength of our work ethic and the scope of our dreams. Thats what drew our forebearers here. Thats how the daughter of a factory worker is c. E. O. Of americas largest automaker. applause how the son of a car keep is speaker of the house. cheers and applause cheers and applause how the son of a single mom can be president of the greatest nation on earth. cheers and applause opportunity is who we are and the defining project of our generation must be to restore that promise. We know where to start. The best measure of opportunity is access to a good job. With the economy picking up speed, Companies Say they intend to hire more people this year. And over half of big manufacturers say theyre thinking of insourcing jobs from abroad. applause so lets make that decision easier for more companies. Both democrats and republicans have argued their our tax code is riddled with wasteful, complicated loopholes that punish businesses investing here and reward companies that keep profits abroad. Lets flip that equation. Lets Work Together to close those loopholes, end those incentives to ship jobs overseas and lower tax rates for businesses that create jobs right here at home. cheers and applause moreover, we can take the money we save from this transition to tax reform to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes because in todays Global Economy, firstclass jobs gravitate to firstclass infrastructure. Well need congress to protect more than three million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills this summer. applause that can happen. But ill act on my own to slash bureaucracy and streamline the permitting process for key projects so we can get more construction workers on the job as fast as possible. applause we also have the chance right now to beat other countries in the race for the next wave of manufacturing jobs. My administration has launched two hubs for hightech manufacturing in raleigh, north carolina, and young town, ohio, where weve connected businesses to Research Universities that can help america lead the world in advanced technologies. Tonight, im announcing well launch six more this year. Bipartisan bills in both houses could double the number of these hubs and the jobs they create. So get those bills to my desk. Put more americans back to work. applause lets do more to help the entrepreneurs and Small Business owners who create most new jobs in america. Over the past five years, my administration has made more loans to Small Business owners than any other. And when 98 of our exporters are Small Businesses, new trade partnerships with europe and the asiapacific will help them create even more jobs. We need to Work Together on tools like Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority to protect our workers, protect our environment, and open new markets to new goods stamps made in the u. S. A. applause listen china and europe arent standing on the sidelines, and neither should we. We know that the nation that goes all in on innovation today will own the Global Economy tomorrow. This is an edge america cannot surrender. Federally funded research helped lead to the ideas and inventions behind google and smart phones and thats why congress should undo the damage done by last years cuts to basic research so we can unleash the next Great American discovery. applause there are entire industries to be built based on vaccines that stay ahead of drugresistant bacteria or paperthin material thats stronger than steel. And lets pass a patent reform bill that allows our businesses to stay focused on innovation, not costly and needless litigation. applause now, one of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to american energy. The all of the above Energy Strategy i announced a few years ago is working and today america is closer to Energy Independence than we have been in decades. applause one of the reasons why is natural gas. If extracted safely, its the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the Carbon Pollution that causes climate change. Businesses plan to invest almost 100 billion in new factories that use natural gas. Ill cut red tape to help states get those factories built and put folks to work and this congress can help by putting people to work building fueling stations that ship more cars and trucks from foreign oil to american natural gas. applause meanwhile, my administration will keep working with the industry while strengthening protection of our air, our water, our communities and while were at it ill use my authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations. applause its not just oil and natural Gas Production thats booming. Were becoming a Global Leader in solar, too. Every four minutes, another American Home or business goes solar. Every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job cannot be outsourceed. Lets continue that progress with a smarter tax policy that stops giving 4 billion a year to fossil fuel industries that dont need it so we can invest more in fuels of the future that do cheers and applause and even as weve increased energy production, weve partnered with businesses, builders and local communities to reduce the energy we consume. When we rescued our automakers, for example, we worked with them to set higher fuel efficiency standards for our cars. In the coming months, ill build on that success by setting new standards for our trucks so e we can keep driving down oil imports and what we pay at the pump. And taken together, our Energy Policy is creating jobs and leading to a cleaner, safer planet. Over the past eight years, the United States has reduced our total Carbon Pollution more than any other nation on earth. applause but we have to act with more urgency because a changing climate is already harming western communities struggling with drought and coastal cities dealing with floods. Thats why i directed my administration to work with states, utilities, and others to set new standards on the amount of Carbon Pollution our power plants are allowed to dump into the air. applause the shift to a cleaner Energy Economy wont happen overnight and it will require some tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact and when our childrens children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world with new sources of energy i want us to be able to say yes, we did. cheers and applause finally, if were serious about Economic Growth, its time to heed the call of Business Leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, Law Enforcement and fix our broken immigration system. cheers and applause republicans and democrats in the senate have acted and i know that members of both parties in the house want to do the same. Independent economists say Immigration Reform will grow our economy and shrink our deficits by almost one trillion dollars in the next two decades. And for good reason. When people come here to fulfill their dreams, to study and invent, contribute to our culture they make our country a more attractive place for businesses to locate and create jobs for everybody. So lets get Immigration Reform done this year. cheers and applause lets get it done. Its time. The ideas ive outlined so far can speed up growth and create more jobs. But in this rapidly changing economy, we have to make sure that every american has the skills to fill those jobs. The good news is, we know how to do it. Two years ago, as the Auto Industry came roaring back, andra rush opened up a Manufacturing Firm in detroit. She knew that ford needed parts for the best selling truck in america and she knew how to make those parts. She just needed the work force. So she dialed up what we call an american job center. Places where folks can walk in to get the help or training they need to find out a new job or better job. She was flooded with new workers and today Detroit Manufacturing Systems has more than 700 employees. And what andra and her employees experienced is how it should be for every employer and every job seeker. So tonight ive asked Vice President biden to lead an acrosstheboard reform of americas Training Programs to make sure they have one Mission Train americans with the skills employers need and match them to good jobs that need to be filled right now. applause that means more onthejob training and more apprenticeships that set a young worker on an upward trajectory for life. It means connecting companies to Community Colleges that can help Design Training to fill their specific needs. And if Congress Wants to help, you can concentrate funding on proven programs that connect more readytowork americans with ready to be filled jobs. Im also convinced we can help americans return to the work force faster by reforming Unemployment Insurance so that its more effective in todays economy. But first this Congress Needs to restore the Unemployment Insurance you just let expire for 1. 6 Million People. cheers and applause let me tell you why. Misty demars is a mother of two young boys. Shed been steadily employed since she was a teenager. Put herself through college. Shed never collected unemployment benefits, but shed been paying taxes. In may she and her husband used their life savings to buy their first home. A week later, budget cuts claimed the job she loved. Last month when their Unemployment Insurance was cut off, she sat down and wrote me a letter the kind i get everyday. We are the face of the Unemployment Crisis she wrote. Im not dependent on the government. Our country depends on People Like Us who build careers, contribute to society, care about our neighbors. Im confident that in time i will find a job, i will pay my taxes and we will raise our children in their own home in the community we love. Please give us this chance. Congress, give these hardworking responsible americans that chance. cheers and applause give them that chance applause give them the chance they need our help right now, but more important, this country needs them in the game thats why ive been asking c. E. O. S to give more longterm unemployed workers a fair shot at new jobs, a new chance to support their families. And, in fact, this week many will come to the white house to make that commitment real. Tonight i ask every Business Leader in america to join us and do the same because we are stronger when america fields a full team. applause of course, its not enough to train todays work force. We also have to prepare tomorrows work force by guaranteeing every child access to a worldclass education. applause as Estiven Rodriguez couldnt speak a word of english when he moved to new york city at the age of nine. But this month thanks to an innovative tutoring program and the help of teachers he led a march of his classmates from their high school to the post office where they mailed off their college applications. And this son of a factory worker just found out hes going to college this fall. applause five years ago, we set out to change the odds for all our kids. We worked with lenders to reform Student Loans and today more young people are earning College Degrees than ever before. Race to the top, with the help of governors from both parties, has helped states raise expectations and performance. Teachers and principals in schools from tennessee to washington, d. C. Are making big strides in preparing students with the skills for the new economy problem solving, critical thinking, science, technology, engineering, math. Now, some of this change is hard. It requires everything from more challenging curriculums and more demanding parents to better support for teachers and new ways to measure how well our kids think, not how well they can fill in a bubble on the test. But it is worth it. And it is working. The problem is, were still not reaching enough kids. And were not reaching them in time. And that has to change. Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a childs life is highquality early education. applause last year, i asked this congress to help states make high quality prek available to every fouryearold. And as a parent as well as a president i repeat that request tonight. But in the meantime 30, states have raised prek funding on their own. They know we cant wait. So just as we worked with states to reform our schools, this year well invest in new partnerships with states and communities across the country in a race to the top for our youngest children. And as congress decides what its going to do, im going to pull together a coalition of elected officials, Business Leaders and philanthropists willing to help more kids access the high quality prek that they need. It is right for america. We need to get this done. applause last year, i also pledged to connect 99 of our students to highspeed pwro d band ovesp. Tonight i can announce with the support of the f. C. C. And Companies Like apple, microsoft, sprint and verizon we have a down payment to Start Connecting more than 15,000 schools and 20 Million Students over the next two years without adding a dime to the deficit. applause were working to redesign high schools and partner them with colleges and employers that offer the real World Education and handson training that can lead directly to a job and career. Were shaking up our system of Higher Education to give parents more information and colleges more incentive to offer better value. So that no middleclass kid is priced out of a college education. Were offering millions the opportunity to cap their monthly student loan payments to 10 of their income. And i want to work with congress to see how we can help even more americans who feel trapped by student loan debt. applause and im reaching out to some of americas leading foundations and corporations on a new initiative to help more young men of color facing especially tough odds to stay on track and reach their full potential. The bottom line is michelle and i want every child to have the same chance this country gave us. But we know our opportunity agenda wont be complete and too many young people entering the work force today will see the American Dream as an empty promise unless we also do more to make sure our economy honors the dignity of work. And hard work pays off for every single american. Today women make up about half our work force, but they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. That is wrong. And in 2014 its an embarrassment Women Deserve equal pay for equal work. cheers and applause she deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or a sick parent without running into hardship. And you know what . A father does, too. It is time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a mad men episode. This year, lets all come together congress, the white house, businesses from wall street to main street to give every woman the opportunity she deserves because i believe when women succeed america succeeds. cheers and applause now, women hold a majority of lowerwage jobs, but theyre not the only ones stifled by stagnant wages. Americans understand that some people will earn more money than others and we dont resent those who, by virtue of their efforts, achieve incredible success. Thats what america is all about. But americans overwhelmingly agree that no one who works full time should ever have to raise a family in poverty. applause applause in the year since i asked this congress to raise the minimum wage, five states have passed laws to raise theirs. Many businesses have done it on their own. Nick chute is here today with his boss john soranno. John is an owner of punch pizza in minneapolis and nick helps make the dough. Only now he makes more of it. laughter john just gave his employees a raise to ten bucks an hour, and thats a decision that has eased their Financial Stress and boosted their morale. Tonight i ask more of americas Business Leaders to follow johns lead. Do what you can to raise your employees wages. applause its good for the economy, its good for america. applause to every mayor, governor, state legislator in america i say you dont have to wait for congress to act. Americans will support you if you take this on. And as a chief executive, i intend to lead by example. Profitable corporations like costco see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduce turnover. We should, too. In the coming weeks, i will issue an executive order requiring federal contractors to pay their federally funded employees a fair wage of at least 10. 10 an hour because if you cook our troops meals or wash their dishes you should not have to live in poverty. applause of course, to reach millions more, congress does need to get on board. Today the federal minimum wage is worth about 20 less than it was when Ronald Reagan first stood here. Tom harkin and George Miller have a bill to fix that by lifting the minimum wage to 10. 10. Its easy to remember. 10. 10. This will help families, it will give businesses customers with more money to spend, it does not involve any new bureaucratic program. So join the rest of the country, say yes. Give america a raise cheers and applause give them a raise. applause there are other steps we can take to help families make ends meet and few are more effective at reducing inequality and helping families pull themselves up through hard work than the earned income tax credit. Right now, it helps about half of all parents at some point. Think about that. It helps about half of all parents in america at some point in their lives. But i agree with republicans like senator rubio that it doesnt do enough for single workers who dont have kids. So lets Work Together to strengthen the credit, reward work, help more americans get ahead. Lets do more to help americans save for retirement. Today most workers dont have a pension. A Social Security check often isnt enough on its own. And while the stock market has doubled over the last five years, that doesnt help folks who dont have 401 k s. Thats why tomorrow i will direct the treasury to create a new way for working americans to start their own retirement savings. Myra. Its a new savings bond that encourages folks to build a nest egg. Myra guarantees a desince return with no risk of losing what you put in and if this Congress Wants to help, work with me to fix an upside down tax code that gives big tax breaks to help the wealthy save but does little or nothing for middleclass americans. Offer every american access to an automatic i. R. A. On the job so they can save at work just like everybody in this chamber can. And since the most important investment many families make is their home, send me legislation that protects taxpayers from footing the bill for a housing crisis ever again and keeps the dream of homeownership alive for future generations. applause one last point on financial security. For decades few things exposed hardworking families to Economic Hardship more than a broken health care system. And in case you havent heard, we here in the process of fixing that. applause now, a preexisting condition used to mean that someone like amanda shelley, a physicians assistant and single mom from arizona, couldnt get Health Insurance. But on january 1 she got covered. applause on january 3, she felt a sharp pain. On january 6, she had emergency surgery. Just one week earlier, amanda said, and that surgery would have meant bankruptcy. Thats what Health Insurance reform is all about, the peace of mind that if misfortune strikes you dont have to lose everything. Already because of the Affordable Care act more than three million americans under age 26 have gained coverage under their parents plan. applause more than nine million americans have signed up for private Health Insurance or medicaid coverage. applause nine million. And heres another number zero. Because of this law, no american, none, zero, can ever again be dropped or denied coverage for a preexisting condition like asthma or back pain or cancer. cheers and applause no woman can ever be charged more just because shes a woman. applause and we did all this while adding years to medicares finances, keeping medicare premiums flat, and lowering prescription costs for millions of seniors. Now, i do not expect to convince my republican friends on the merits of this law. laughter but i know that the American People are not interested in refighting old battles so, again, if you have specific plans to cut costs, cover more people, increase choice, tell america what youd do differently. Lets see if the numbers add up. But lets not have another 40something votes to repeal a law thats already helping millions of americans like amanda. cheers and applause cheers and applause the first 40 were plenty. We all owe it to the American People to say what were for. Not just what were against. And if you want to know the real impact this law is having, just talk to Governor Steve Beshear of kentucky whos here tonight. Now, kentuckys not the most liberal part of the country. laughter thats not where i got my highest vote totals. But hes like a man possessed when it comes to covering his commonwealths families. Theyre our neighbors and our friends, he said. Theyre people we shop and go to church with. Farmers out on the tractor. Grocery clerks. Theyre people who go to work every morning praying they dont get sick. No one deserves to live that way. Steves right. Thats why tonight i ask every american who knows someone without Health Insurance to help them get covered by march 31. applause help them get covered. Moms, get on your kids to sign up. Kids, call your mom and walk her through the application. That will give her some peace of mind and plus shell appreciate hearing from you. laughter after all, thats the spirit that has always moved this nation forward. Its the spirit of citizenship, the recognition that through hard work and responsibility we can pursue our individual dreams but stil come together as one American Family to make sure the next generation can pursue its dreams as well. Citizenship means standing up for everyones right to vote. applause last year, part of the Voting Rights act was weakened but conservative republicans and liberal democrats are working together to strengthen it. And the Bipartisan Commission i appointed chaired by my Campaign Lawyer and governor romneys Campaign Lawyer came together and have offered reforms so that no one has to wait more than a half hour to vote lets support these efforts. It should be the power of our vote, not the size of our bank accounts, that drives our democracy. applause icitizenship means standing up for the lives that gun violencee steals from us each day. Ive seen the courage of students, pastors, Police Officers all over this country who say we are not afraid. And i intend to keep trying with or without congress to help stop more tragedies from visiting innocent americans in our movie theaters and our shopping malls or schools like sandy hook. applause citizenship demands a sense of common purpose. Participation in the hard work of selfgovernment. An obligation to serve our communities. And i know this this chamber agrees that few americans give more to their country than our diplomats and the men and women of the United States armed forces. applause . applause cheers and applause tonight, because of the extraordinary troops and civilians who risk and lay down their lives to keep us free, the United States is more secure. When i took office, nearly 180,000 americans were serving in iraq and afghanistan. Today all our troops are out of iraq, more than 60,000 of our troops have already come home from afghanistan. With Afghan Forces now in the lead for their own security, our troops have moved to a support role. Together with our allies, we will complete our mission there by the end of this year. And americas longest war will finally be over. applause after 2014 we will support a unified afghanistan as it takes responsibility for its own future. If the Afghan Government signs a Security Agreement that we have negotiated, a small force of americans could remain in afghanistan with nato allies to carry out two narrow Missions Training and assisting Afghan Forces and Counterterrorism Operations to pursue any remnants of al qaeda. For while our relationship with afghanistan will change, one thing will not our resolve that terrorists do not launch attacks against our country. applause the fact is, that danger remains. While weve put al qaedas core leadership on a path to defeat, the threat has evolved as al qaeda affiliates and other extremists take root in different parts of the world. In yemen, somalia, iraq, mali, we have to keep working with partners to disrupt and disable those networks. In syria, well support the opposition that rejects the agenda of terrorist networks. Here at home, well keep strengthening our defenses and combat new threats like cyber attacks. And as we reform our defense budget, we will have to keep faith with our men and women in uniform and invest in the capabilities they need to succeed in future missions. applause applause we have to remain vigilant, but i strongly believe our leadership and our security cannot depend on our outstanding military alone. As commander in chief, i have used force when needed to protect the American People and i will never hesitate to do so as long as i hold this office. But i will not send our troops into harms way unless it is truly necessary, nor will i allow our sons and daughters to be mired in openended conflicts. We must fight the battles that need to be fought, not those that terrorists prefer from us large scale deployments that drain our strength and may ultimately feed extremism. So even as we actively and aggressively pursue terrorist networks through more targeted efforts and by building the capacity of our foreign partners, america must move off a permanent war footing. applause thats why ive imposed prudent limits on the use of drones. For we will not be safer if people abroad believe we strike within their countries without regard for the consequence. Thats why working with this congressly reform our surveillance programs because the vital work of our Intelligence Community depends on Public Confidence here and abroad that privacy of ordinary people is not being violated. applause and with the afghan war ending, this needs to be the Year Congress lifts the remaining restrictions on detainee transfers and we close the prison at guantanamo bay. applause because we Counter Terrorism not just through intelligence and military actions but by remaining true to our constitutional ideals and setting an example for the rest of the world. You see, in a world of complex threats, our security, our leadership depends on all elements of our power, including strong and principles diplomacy. American diplomacy has rallied more than 50 countries to prevent Nuclear Materials from falling into the wrong hands. And allowed us to reduce our own reliance on cold war stockpiles. American diplomacy backed by the threat of force is why syrias chemical weapons are being eliminated. applause and we will continue to work with the International Community to usher in the future the Syrian People deserve. A future free of dictatorship, terror, and fear. As we speak, american diplomacy is supporting israelis and palestinians as they engage in the difficult but necessary talks to end the conflict there. To achieve dignity and an independent state for palestinians and lasting peace and security for the state of israel, a jewish state that knows america will always be at their side. applause and it is american diplomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted the progress of Irans Nuclear program and rolled back parts of that program for the very first time in a decade. As we gather here tonight, iran has begun to eliminate its stockpile of higher levels of enriched uranium. Its not installing advanced centrifuges. Unprecedented inspections help the world verify everyday that iran is not building a bomb. And with our allies and partners, were engaged in negotiations to see if we can peacefully achieve a goal we all share preventing iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. applause these negotiations will be difficult. They may not succeed. We are cleareyed about irans support for terrorist organizations like hezbollah which threatens our allies and were clear about the mistrust between our nations, mistrust that cannot be wished away. But these negotiations dont rely on trust. Any longterm deal we agree to must be based on verifiable action that convinces us and the International Community that iran is not building a nuclear bomb. If john f. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan could negotiate with the soviet union then surely a strong and confident america can negotiate with less powerful adversaries today. applause the sanctions that we put in place helped make this opportunity possible. But let me be clear if this Congress Sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, i will veto it. applause for the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed. applause if irans leaders do not seize this opportunity then i will be the first to call for more sanctions and stand ready to exercise all options to make sure iran does not build a nuclear weapon. But if irans leaders do seize the chance and well know soon enough then iran could taken a important step to rejoin the community of nations and we will have resolved one of the leading security channels of our time without the risks of war. And finally lets remember that our leadership is defined not just by our defense against threats but by the enormous opportunities to do good and promote understanding around the globe. To forge greater cooperation, to expand new markets, to free people from fear and want. And no one is better positioned to take advantage of those opportunities than america. Our alliance with europe remains the strongest the world has ever known. From tunisia to burma were supporting those who are willing to do the hard work of building democracy. In ukraine, we stand for the principle that all people have the right to express themselves freely and peacefully. And to have a say in their countrys future. Across africa, were bringing together businesses and governments to double access to electricity and help end extreme poverty. In the americas, were building new ties of commerce, but were also expanding cultural and educational exchanges among young people. And we will continue to focus on the asiapacific where we support our allies, shape a future of greater security and prosperity, and extend a hand to those devastated by disaster. As we did in the philippines when our marines and avilles cis rushed to aid those battered by a typhoon and who got words like we will never forget your kindness and god bless america. We do these things because they help promote our longterm security and because we believe in the inherent dignity and equality of every human being regardless of race or religion, creed or sexual orientation. And next week, the world will see one expression of that commitment when team u. S. A. March it is red white and blue into the Olympic Stadium and brings home the gold. cheers and applause my fellow americans, no other country in the world does what we do. On every issue the world turns to us. Not simply because of the size of our economy or our military might but because the ideals we stand for and the burdens we bear to advance them. No one knows this better than those who serve in uniform. As this time of war draws to a close, a new generation of heroes returns to civilian life. Well keep slashing that backlog so our veterans receive the benefits theyve earned and our Wounded Warriors receive the Health Care Including the Mental Health care that they need. applause well keep working to help our veterans translate their skills and leadership into jobs here at home and we will all continue to join forces to honor and support our remarkable military families. Let me tell you about one of those families ive come to know. I first met Cory Remsburg, a proud army ranger, at omaha beach on the 65th anniversary of dday along with some of his fellow rangers, he walked me through the program and the ceremony, he was a strong, impressive young man, had an easy manner, was sharp as a tack and we joked around and took pictures and i told him to stay in touch. A few months later, on his 10th deployment, cory was nearly killed by a massive roadside bomb in afghanistan. His comrades found him in a canal face down underwater shrapnel in his brain. For months he lay in a coma. The next time i met him, in the hospital, he couldnt speak he could barely move. Over the years, hes endured dozens of surgeries and procedures, hours of grueling rehab everyday. Even now, corys still blind in one eye. Still struggles on his left side. But slowly, steadily, with the support of caregivers like his dad craig and the Community Around him, cory has grown stronger. And day by day hes learned to speak again and stand again and walk again. And hes working toward the day when he can serve his country again. My recovery has not been easy, he says. Nothing in life thats worth anything is easy. Cory is here tonight. And, like the army he loves, like the america he serves, Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg never gives up and he does not quit. cheers and applause cheers and applause cheers and applause cheers and applause cheers and applause cheers and applause cheers and applause cheers and applause cheers and applause cheers and applause my fellow americans, men and women like cory remind us that america has never come easy. Our freedom, our democracy has never been easy. Sometimes we stumble, we make mistakes, we get frustrated or discouraged. But for more than 200 years we have put those things aside and placed our collective shoulder to the wheel of progress to create and build and expand the possibilities of individual achievement, to free other nations from tyranny and fear. The promote justice and fairness and equality under the law so that the words set to paper by our founders are made real for every citizen. The america we want for our kids, a rising america where honest work is plentiful and communities are strong, where prosperity is widely shared and opportunity for all lets us go as far as our dreams and toil will take us, none of it is easy. But if we Work Together if we summon was what is best in us the way cory summoned what is best in him, with our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast toward tomorrow i know it is within our reach. Believe it. God bless you and god bless the United States of america. cheers and applause woodruff and so ends president obamas fifth state of the union speech, mark shields and david brooks are still here with gwen and me. A powerful, emotional, ending to a speech that spanned the distance from helping the middle class in this country, looking for jobs, he said with or without the help of congress, celebrating the troops and the strength of this country. Ifill the speech lasted an hour and five minutes and 22 minutes of that was applaud applause for that sergeant. Thats the longest standing ovation i can ever remember in a state of the union drees. And what struck me, was it was his tenth deployment. If that doesnt remind us about the small percentage of americans who go into battle. Woodruff david. That and the misty demars moment, the woman moid, on Unemployment Insurance. This reminded me of a clintonesque speech. This was more in the vain of opportunity, more sunny, less populism, less class consciousness, so to speak. More policy, some good, some bad, by by light, but notas aggressive. And as theyt might have been, given the circumstance. And i guess i have to think when clinton issued some of the same policies, some ideas income tax credits, Training Programs, we were in the era of peace and prosperity. The mood of the country is not quite the same. I think there was room for aggression, greatest argumentation for more radical change. Ifill the president is still making his way out of the chamber tonight. It was a work manlike speech. It was, gwen. Thats the word i wrote down, workmanlike. He did challenge the republicans on the health care. He walked up and said, we owe it to the American People to have an alternative, to have a plan beyond dont get sick, which is basically the republican plan, as far as its been unveiled. And he had with him the wall street journal nbc poll, 51 of americans, the absolute priority to, fix and keep the new health care law. So the president had that. Maybe theres a change in that debate. He was a little defensive, a little apologetic about the botched rollout which has costed him confidence in his competence and honesty and dealt a blow to his presidency. Angela glover blackwell, founder and c. E. O. , and Michael Tanner senior policy analyst and Libertarian Cato Institute here in washington. Strictly on questions of poverty, especially on the inequality piece, Michael Tanner, give us a tense of what your reaction was to what the president had to say. I thought the overall speech was solid and well delivered, utterly forgettable in the long run, and really didnt strike any great themes. Even when he came to the big issue this was supposed to be focused on inequality he didnt propose much that would deal with it. He talked down about the rich a little bit, and had a few minor proposals, things likeeration the minimum wage which would do almost nothing in terms of dealing with inequality or poverty. He really didnt address the real, underlying problems that we need better education, better skills, and we snead something to do to create more Economic Growth in this country general generally. Woodruff Angela Blackwell, did you hear the same thing, that there was not any call to do anything dramatic that would be successful helping people in the middle class . Thank you. I thought it was a very forwardlooking speech, really thinking about, given that things are starting to turn around, how do we make sure that everybody can participate and prosper. I thought there was a lot of concreteness. But the thing i really felt was the president s jumping over politics for a minute and connecting with the will of the American People. The American People are ready to move forward. Theyre looking and supporting a minimum wage, want to deal with inequality, really feeling that upward mobility is slipping and the middle class is really shrinking. So i think the president spoke to what the American People care about and hit them where it really matters. Ifill i want to ask you both, was the president speaking just in general terms to you or did you hear specifics that would satisfy or worry you about where he heads next . Michael tanner . Well, in general, this could have been the same speech he gave last year. We heard the same things raise the minimum wage, defense of the health care law, more investment in green energy that sort of thing that weve all heard in the past. I really think, though, that we need to look at the outcome of the some of the proposed policies. For example, raising the minimum wage would affect relatively few poor people. In fact, if you raise it the way the president wants to do so, only about 11 of the people affected would be people below the Poverty Level compared to four sometimes as many who would earn more than 300 of the Poverty Level, and youd wipe out a lot of entrylevel jobs that are the first rung on the ladder out of poverty so he would end up doing more harm than good. Woodruff Angela Blackwell, as we watch the president leaving the chamber, signing a lot of autographs, i assume you dont agree with that assessment. I dont. I like that the president was concrete doing what he could on minimum wage. 26 Million People work for contractors contracting with the federal government, making sure all of them are getting at least the minimum wage is good, and it shows the nation hes taking action. I also love the focus preschool education. We have a National Consensus that children really do well in life when they get a strong start in the beginning. Hes really pushing to move on that. And i thought it was very instructive that he lifted up skills and education, talked about education broadly from preschool through college, but also through training, and the focus on manufacturing and technological advances and hubs all of that was very concrete. And they are things that can happen now. Ifill as the president leaves the chamber, Angela Glover blackwell, and Michael Tanner, thanks. David brooks, the president talked about creating hightech manufacturing hubs and Training Programs. It reminded me a little bit about school uniforms. Angela made a good point that it was unpolitical. Youre right, patent reform, i dont remember a lot of patent reform talks in the state of the union addresses, and thats why i say i thought it could have been more aggressive. On some of the education reform, for example, he talked about the normal policies hes also been for race to the top. But school reform, frankly sbumping up into a problem that you can do academic reform but if kids dont have intuls control theres only so much you can do and theres an avenue of new policies they could have walked into to give us something new. I imagine in the white house, they had a debate whats realistic . What can we possibly get through and went for the policies. I could have made a counterargument. Lets reframe it much more aggressively and lay out a more aggressive agenda. Gloold glood im sure they did have that debate. I want to remind our audience in three or four minutes well hear the republican from response from Cathy Mcmorris rodgers, one of the highranking republicans in the house. Mark, what about that whether this question of whether the president should have been more greatest, more critical. He was more timid than he had been in his december speech. On economic inequality. He did address the issue. But it was not prin prescriptivd he didnt make it an emotional centerpiece. I never heard a president mention as many corporate entities in a speech apple, verizon, sprint, microsoft, google in addition to the pizza shop, g. M. It was just in that sense, there was a clintonesque quality to it, and it was i wrote down the golden oldies. Theerpz what he had asked for before, and now hes saying im going to act on my own if we dont get it. There was ifill gloag closing guantano and gun control. He did impose stricter background checks by executive order but there are limits on what a president can do about gun safety or gun control. If you look at it cynically, judy, you could say he made a decided pitch to woman. There was a strong theme on equal pay, health care uon women the treatment of women, strong pitch to latinos. So democrats immigration, on equity and justice so you could say democrats, i think, will be pleased that they can look at it, to some degree as a rallying campaign document. Woodruff i thought he made a strong pitch, too, on the minimum wage. He was coming back to it. He did. Woodruff but he did push and said im ready to work with mayors and governors and anybody. Not to get wonky on us, but Michael Tanner made the point which is a true point, that is is not most of the benefits go to people earning well above the poverty line or second or third incomes. The policy he did mention which is extremely well target is the earned income tax credit. But if you look at the details, he said he wanted to work with marco rubio to make it better tut butt there was no policy proposal in there. Ifill i want to turn back to Angela Blackwell briefly. One of the point he made in the speech he wanted to start create something sort of initiative to aid men of color, but he talked about funding it through corpovation and foundations, not something that the government would start. Is that speaking to something that resonates with you . Im glad that you came back to that because i thought the focus on women, boys and men of color, and immigration suggested that there was a real focus on when you invest on tho who are left behind, you do well for america. So lifting up boys and men of color was in that vein. It is important to engage corporations and foundations and the federal government has many programs that touch boys and men of color, and they need to be engaged as well. Ifill Michael Tanner, we only have a second if you want to respond briefly. I think, absolutely, we need to help everybody who has been left behind in this country. The problem census the president cant do very much. The federal government cant do very much. In the end its going to be the private sector thats going to drive the Economic Growth thats going to lift up men of color ifill mr. Attorney, thank you, we have to go back to the capitol for the republican response being delivered by fiveterm congresswoman Cathy Mcmorris rodgers. What an honor it is story me to be with you after the president s state of the union. Tonight, we honor america, a nation nathat has witnessed the greatest rise of freedom and opportunity our world has ever seen. A nation where we are not defined by our limits but by our 5potential. And a nation when a girl who worked at the Mcdonalds Drivethru to help pay for college can be with you from the United States capitol. But the most important moments right now arent happening here. Theyre not in the oval office or in the house chamber. Theyre in your homes kissing your kids good night, figuring out how to pay the bills, getting ready for tomorrows doctors visit, waiting to hear from those you love serving in afghanistan or searching for that big job interview. After all if we, the people, have been the foundation of america since her earliest days, people from all walks of life and from all corners of the world. People who come to america because here, no challenge is too great and no dream too big. Thats the genius of america. Tonight, the president made more promises that sound good but wont actually solve the problems facing americans. We want you to have a better life. The president wantsthat, too. But we part ways when it comes to how to make that happen. So tonight, id like to share a more hopeful republican vision, one that empowers you, not the government. Its one that champions free markets and trusts people to make their own decision, not a government that decides for you. It helps working families rise above the limits of poverty, and protects our most vulnerable, and its one where washington plays by the same rules that you do. Its a vision that is fair and offers the promise of a Better Future for every american. If you would have told me as a little girl they would one day put my hand on a baseball and be sworn in as the 200th woman to serve in the house of representatives, i wouldnt have thought it possible. I grew up working on my familys orchard and fruit stand in kettle falls, a small town in eastern washington, getting up before dawn with my brother to pick apples. My it dad drove a school bus and my mom worked as a parttime bookkeeper. They taught me to work hard, help others, and always, always dream for more. So when i showed my 4h animals at the county fair, my parents used to say to me, cathy, you need to save this money so you can go to college one day. And so i did. I saved. I worked hard. And i became the first in my family to graduate from college. The chance to go from my washington to this one was unexpected. I came to congress to help empower people, not politicians. To groat working middle class, not the government. And to ensure that everyone in this country can find a job. Because a job is so much more than a paycheck. It gives us purpose, dignity, and the foundation to build a future. I was single when i was elected, but it wasnt long before i met bryan, a retired navy commander, now now we have three beautiful children, one who was born just eight weeks ago. Like all parents, we have high hopes and dreams for our children. But we also know what its like to face challenges. Three days after our son was born, cole, we got news no parent expects it. Cole was diagnosed with down syndrome. The doctors told us he could have endless complications, heartdefects, even early alzheimers. They told us all the problems, but when we looked at our son, we saw only possibilities. We saw a gift from god. And today twe see a sixyearold boy who dances to bruce springsteen, who resident above grade level, and who is the best big brother in the world. We sue all the things he can do, not those he cant. And cole and his sisters, grace and brynn, have only made me more determined to see the potential in every human life that whether were born with an extra 21st chromosome or without a dollar to our name we are not defined by our limits but by our potential because our mission, not only as republicans but as americans is to once again ensure that we are not bound by where we come from sp but empowered by what we can become. That is the gap republicans are working to close. Its a gap we all face, between you are and where you want to be. The president talks a lot about income inequality. But the real gap we face today is one of opportunity inequality, and with this administrations policies that gap has become far too wide. We see this gap growing every single day. We see it in our neighbors who are struggling to find jobs. A husband who is now working just part time. A child who drops out of college because she cant afford tuition. Or parents who are outliving their lifes savings. Last month, more americans stopped looking for a job than found one. Too many people are falling further and further behind because right now, the president s policies are making peoples lives harder. Republicans have plans to close the gap, plans that will focus on jobs first without more spending, government bailouts and red tape. Every day, were working to expand our economy, manufacturing job, nursing degree, Small Business at a time. We have plans to improve our education and Training System so you have the choice to determine where your kids go to school, so college is affordable, and skills training is modernized. And, yes, its time to honor our history of legal immigration. Were working on a stepbystep solution to Immigration Reform by first securing our borders and making sure america will always attract the best, brightest, and hardest working from around the world. And with too Many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, we have solutions to help you take home more of your pay through lower taxes, Cheaper Energy costs, and Affordable Health care. Not long ago, i got a better from bette in spokane who hoped the president S Health Care law would save her money but found out instead her premiums were going up nearly 700 a month. Weve all talked to too many people who have received cancellation notices they didnt expect. Or who can no longer see the doctors they always have. No it, we shouldnt go back to the things the way things were. But this law is not working. Republicans believe Health Care Choices should be yours, not the governments. And that whether youre a boy with down syndrome or a woman with breast cancer, you can find coverage and a doctor who will treat you. So we hope the president will join us in a year of real action by empowering people, not by making their lives harder with unprecedented spending, higher taxes and fewer jobs. As republicans we advance these plans every day because we believe in a government that trusts people. And doesnt limit where you finish because of where you started. That is what we stand for. Its for an america that is every bit as compassionate as it is exceptional. Were successful. Greers now our children will say that we rebuilt the American Dream. We built a working middle class that could take in anyone, and a workforce that could on the world. Whether youre a girl in kettle falls or a boy from brooklyn, our children should be able to say that we closed the gap. Our plan is one that dreams big for everyone and turns its back on no one. The president said many things tonight but now i ask him to listen to you. For the true state of the union lies in your heart and in your home. Tomorrow, ill watch my son cole get on the school bus. Others will wait in the Doctors Office or interviewinar first job. Some of us will celebrate new beginnings. Others will face great challenges, but all of us will wake up and do what is uniquely american. We will look forward to the balance potential that lies ahead. We will give thanks to the brave men and women who have answered americas call to freedom, like Sergeant Jacob hess from spokane who recently gave his life to protect all of ours. So tonight, i simply offer a prayer, a prayer for Sergeant Hess family, your family, and for our larger American Family that with the guidance of god, we may prove ourselves worthy of his blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for from we embrace these gifts we are each doing our part to form a more perfect union. May god guide and you our exprt may god continue to bless the United States of america. Woodruff and that was the republican sentence from Cathy Mcmorris rodgers, who is the chairman of the House Republican conference. Shes a congresswoman from the state of washington. Once again, mark shields and david brooks are with us. David, more of a personal testimonial than anything policy or government. That was part of my reaction. Very winning personality, very good presence. She did well, i thought. Her speechwriters did her no favors. They did not stint on the cliches. But her party did her no favors. Her party has to really behind some sort of positive agenda, and she mentioned vaguely there were plans but not really mentioning what those plans were. And you would search in that speech for an actual policy idea. And i do think the Republican Party has a problem offering alternative ideas, at least presenting them in this rare opportunity, and i dont think she did that. Ifill was the idea for the Republican Party, simply by her presence to, send a message. I think it was. I think she put a fairfax a womans face on a party that has struggled to appeal to women voters. She is the highest ranking woman in Republican Leadership in the house. And she it was a nondivisive, nonpolemic pleasant face. It may have been substance free. It certainly was not substance abuse. But i dont think think anybody could say, gee, i Department Like her. That was mean spirited, or any of the other charges leveled against republicans. Woodruff i think david said earlier, the president s speech was not a heavy government policyrelated speech. As one, were all just emoting. Thats all we do. Ifill there is one theme i thought was interesting that she and the president mentioned. That was opportunity. She talked about the opportunity of equality. And he talked about ladders of opportunity, but they dont necessarily mean the same thing. It is a problem. Opportunity has not declined in this country as we talked in the newshour newscast but it is worse than it is in it europe and that is a big problem for both parties. Woodruff we know the nations towns and industries on the front lines when it comes to solving some of sneeze problems whether the president or congresswoman Cathy Mcmorris rodgers, spoke about them, whether economic or social. Throughout this election year, were going to be looking at what works on the ground level. Tonight were joined by four mayors from around the country, two democrats, Marilyn Strickland of tacoma, washington; and Pedro Segarra of hartford, connecticut. Plus two republicans, scott smith of mesa, arizona. He is also the chair of the u. S. Conference of mayors. And mick cornett from oklahoma city. Let me start with you, mayor cornett. What did you make of the president s state of the union . Well, hes told a lot of people what they were looking to hear. I still think this president doesnt continued the huge deficit that this nation is facing. When he took office, the nation had a 10 trillion deficit. Its now 17. And today he said that he had cut the deficit in half. And that seems like some sort of crazy maghtd to me. He introduced a lot of new programs tonight that got a lot of applause but i dont see how that will reduce the debt. His policies have been in place now for five years, and for the most part theyre not worsening. Inequality is a big problem in this country and as he said tonight, inequality has only deepened. I did like his approach to infrastructure. We do need to spend money on infrastructure in this country. I think thats an investment the president and i can get together on that. Ifill mayor strickland, i wonder what your First Response was, not only what the president had to say but the republican response. I think the president did a fantastic job of outlining the agenda moving forward. He talked about opportunity. He talked about action. And he talked about optimism. And those are really the principles this country is founded on. And sing its really important for to us understand this wasnt an as thing for him to have to talk about some of these issues that are important to all of us. But he got reelected during a time when we had a deep recession that were crawling out of. So i think the fact he talked about raising the minimum wage and also talked about the importance of having access to health care. You know, the Health Care Plan isnt perfect, but in Washington State alone, more than 320,000 people now have access to health care and having access to it is the difference between getting know going to a hospital and getting help or possibly going bankrupt. So i think he did a really good job of explaining what can happen in the second term. Woodruff mayor smith of mesa, arizona, what was your takeaway of the president s remarks . He mentioned working with mayors on a few instances, one on the minimum wage. Well, mayors work with the federal government a lot, every day, because we work with federal departments. You know, a minimum wage, to me its interesting. Theres no doubt people want we all want people to prosper. We want them to get out of poverty. But it seems like the emphasis on minimum wage means were going for the minimum as opposed to working on highquality jobs, and highpaying jobs, and thats what mayors want to do in our community. Its great to lift people but you lift people by expanding the economy and creating highquality jobs, not focusing on minimum wage jobs. Ifill mayor seg from hartford, connecticut, the president talked about things happening outside of congress, but did anything he say speak to what you deal with front burner every day . Absolute na city that has a high rate of poverty in one of the most affluent areas of the United States it is relevant. An investment in things that can be a life changer, game changer for the people who are poor and who can now perhaps by working with the federal agencies can have a better path towards opportunity. Investments in Early Childhood education. Investments in pathways and jobs by really focusing more and working with the federal agency to try to coordinate. Everything that we do, we do sander collaborating for impact, and i think by strategizing with our state and federal partners at a time had congressional action is lacking, its probably one of the best ways we can achieve something under the current situation. So i think it was very relevant. I think that trying to work with the federal agencies, anything from gun efforts, the department of justice, working with the department of education. Im trying to better Access Programs of education, is definitely relevant to creating those ladders of opportunity the president spoke about. Woodruff mayor cornett of oklahoma city, how do you see opportunities for mayors, officials at the city level, the local level, to work with the federal government . Actually, i think president Obamas Administration has been quite friendly to city officials. A lot of them came out of the city of chicago, and theyd seen a very powerful mayors, but a City Government that gets to work. And i think weve got a pretty Good Relationship with them. You know, the problem has been largely on the administration side, and, you know, the growing number of policies that the president keeps enacting that arent necessarily helping our country go forward. Id like to see some immigration policies come out of this congress and white house. And i was also interested tonight to hear the president talking about the myra, the retirement system that could come out and help a lot of people. That might have some merit as well. Ifill mayor smith, as head of the u. S. Conference of mayors, own awn when the mayors come to washington, its to ask for federal help. Is this one of those cases now youve given up on washington the way so Many Americans are and not asking for that help or could you still use it . I think its a misnomer that mayors just come to ask for help. What we want is a partnership. Weecht toed about our economy. We recognize that cities are the drivers of the nations economy. Mayors get things done, but we do so by partnering with our local business and our local to build our economy. Going back to the minimum wage, one thing was really interesting, the president talked about minimum wage, but the two best examples he used of minimum wage, for example, were those businesses that did it voluntarily, both the pizza parlor and costco. And we believe we should lift our people but we just dont want the federal government to mandate that. We want them to be partners. We want them to do what we do on the city level schrk to work with each other but let the private sector and individuals lift themes as opposed to government somehow forcing that on them. Woodruff mayor Marilyn Strickland of tacoma, washington, what about that, the minimum wage . There are two ways to look at this. I think for some people they are saying this is just focusing on the bottom. But there are people who have entrylevel jobs that are minimum wage and if minimum wage kept up with the cost of inflation it would be somewhere around 17 pan hour and it isnt. Id like to bring up the mayoral aspect of working with the administration. Weve been very, very luck tow have access to the administration. Two years ago at one of our leadership retreats we talked about three priorities for congress comprehensive Immigration Reform. Passage of the marketplace fairness act, and also investment in infrastructure dispp as mayors we said we wanted to do this because we want to focus on jobs. We know that those three things can be job creatorrors. And at the end of the day, its a thriving middle class with the power to spend that helps businesses. The best thing we can do for business is to give them consumers with spending fours. Ifill can you ask you, mayor seg, about the big issue, health care. How is that on the local level, especially in hartford, where are you dealing with people with so many other concerns on their plates, including Health Care Cost and health care coverage. Well, absolutely, and i think that the fact we as a state have had the highest enrollment rate of any of the states shows how critical that issue is to our community and to our state. The fact that also helps impacted the ability of many of our children and our families to be able to also succeed. So i think that the issue of health care is one that has been very prominent on our state agenda. Let governor has been pushing for the exchange, and thanks to him and some of the partners weve been able to get a high enrollment rate, and that is something critical, it especially because the Health Care Issues are related to poverty. Woodruff we want to thank all four of you mayors for joining us. Its been so important to get the perspective from you and from your cities. Thank you very much for staying with us. Weve got just a minute or two left. We want to ask mark and and david, final thought . I thought the mayors were good. I mayor smith made a good point about the president making minimum wage voluntary, encouraging businesses to do it. Thats the antithesis to the democratic ideal. You dont do that with child labor. You have to mandate across the board for equality. And you cant just rely upon the good nature of all employers. The other thing is the message of the president that the president struck me with is things are dramatically improved economically but im the only guy to get us out of the mess were in. It was sort of things have improved, but things are really bad and im going to have to go it alone if necessary. Its time to rencialg tonight. We have these big, vast, sprawling speeches. Bill and Melinda Gates and warren buffet issue a letter every year, dont try to cover the waterfront. Just whats on my mind. Why dont we have a president who picks a few subjects, heres whats on my mind. If you want details of policy, ill naught in a letter somewhere. Dont try to cover every single policy. Woodruff dont call it the state of the union. Maybe call it a state of heres what i think. That would do for me. Woodruff we come to these speeches and expect them to name all the solution solutions. Mayor strickland made a good point, putting money in consumers hands, and thats what the argument about inequality is. It is hurting the economy that people do not have adequate paychecks. Ifill is there anything he should have talked about . If you want to go there, thats fine. If you want to do a keynesian stimulus, he could have talked about that. The country is in a sour mood. Theres a great feeling of degeneration, and the president should have to respond to that, left or right or both. Woodruff we hear both of you. We are so glad to have mark shields and david brooks here with us. That does wrap up our special coverage of president obamas state of the union address. We want to thank all of you for joining us tonight. Im judy woodruff. And im gwen ifill. Well see you tomorrow at our regular newshour time. Good night.  karen johnsonweiner theyre in our world, but theyre not part of our world. They dont want to be like us. Amish man we havent bought into american consumerism. David weaverzercher the amish represent something true and virtuous about American Life that some others of us have lost